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Macaron Tutorial

Tuesday, January 04, 2011

I hope everyone is having a great start to the New Year and feels refreshed and ready to enjoy 2011 to the fullest. B. and I don't really make resolutions as we know what works and what does not, what needs to go and what needs to be and always keep those in mind. Not just because it is the New Year. It's refreshing to think of beginnings though. Possibilities.

This past Sunday, we pulled out the big calendar and jotted down our respective commitments so far. We got to July and looked at each other with a big smile and circled August three times and wrote with capitals "vacances a deux". There's been a lot of traveling but it's been too long since we traveled just the two of us and we absolutely love it. We'd love to go to Ireland and Scotland where he is from. It's not a definite yet but we'll work hard to make it happen. Got to dream big right? Right!

The second thing I wrote down in my internal calendar was to make an effort to put myself on pause for tea time. I've mentioned this family tradition before where would gather at the dinner table around 4 or 5 o'clock and have a cup of tea and a couple of cookies or a slice of pie. It was a good way to talk about anything. It was the perfect way to breathe and make plans, laugh and banter.

The cooler days in Winter are perfect just to curl up on the sofa, and take a little time to just be. No disturbance or interference. I am all about a sweet little nosh with my tea and I love making our favorite family treat back home, a simple lemon and olive oil yogurt cake. Everyone, boy or girl, in the family has been taught this cake as soon as they were able to handle a mixing spoon. So easy, so good, so comforting.

This time I changed it up a bit and turned the cake into cupcakes with cream cheese frosting left over from making carrot cake macarons. I also used desiccated coconut as part of the gluten free flour mix I used for no the reason that although he likes the flavor of coconut, B. can't stand the shreds. I bumped the citrus for good measure and the cupcakes were a hit.

Preheat the oven to 350F and line cupcake tins with cupcake liners, slightly brush the inside olive oil.In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar for about 2 minutes. Add the olive oil, yogurt, lemon juice and zest and whisk again so that everything is well mixed. Add the rice flour, millet flour, coconut, baking powder and salt and mix until the batter is smooth. (You can do this in a stand mixer if desired)Divide among the muffin tins, filling no more than 2/3 of the way up. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out free of crumbs.Let cool completely before frosting. Once frosted, add a few pieces of shaved coconut if desired.

bethebel: here you go but this is for the new ones that are not suitable for baking as they added a plastic line inside. The ones I have are still the old ones - I can still find some at some craft supplies stores such as Michaels or AC Moore. I can't take a stand on the new ones but the old ones are suitable for baking, they are getting harder to find because getting out of stock.

Happy New Year, Helene! It sounds as though you have a busy, exciting year ahead of you.

Tea time was also a tradition in our house when I was growing up, too and now my boys and I sit down for a snack every afternoon when they come home from school. It's a great way to reconnect. These pretty cupcakes would be a very welcome treat!

This is a good thinking. I feel like I need to make room for tea too. But I wish I had someone like you to bake for me! That said, my NY resolution is not to eat any cookies or cakes type things unless I bake them myself or they are homemade (as a way of discouraging me from reverting to an easy sugar fix from the work snack machine).

It's a shame that more people don't take the time for an afternoon tea or coffee break - we all need to slow the pace down just a bit. And Ireland/Scotland?? The Professor and I dream to go there one day - and we'd love to take a cooking class or two, roam the countryside and take lovely photos . . . sigh . . . yes, dream BIG Helene!!

They do look awesome, Helene :-) I love drinking tea in the afternoon, although I'm not a big fan of cupcakes... but as my better half loves them, I am wondering whether these cupcakes would go well with a filling of lemon curd? :-) Have a nice day!

Le gouter de quatre heures is special to me as well, it reminds me of my granparents who would always take their afternoon pause for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat. I learned how to make gâteau au yaourt from my grandmother as well, who would use the little yogurt pots as measuring cups for the ingredients!

Mmmm, I really do love coconut & am a sucker for anything with cream cheese frosting, these look delicious! My problem is that I wouldn't just nibble on one :)

Enjoy your holiday in August! I moved to Ireland about 2.5 years ago and have loved every day of it. Drizzling or not, it's absolutely beautiful here, always green and fresh and so many different types of scenery to enjoy.

Looks wonderful! I love the afternoon pause. I have small children, so we do it around 4pm when the school bus drops them off. We have a little snack and a chat about the day before homework and supper prep begins! It's a lovely tradition. :)

The cupcakes are lovely as always! I agree...tea time, a time to pause and take a breath with something delicious, is an important time for every day :) Happy 2011 Helene! Looking forward to more of your signature deliciousness :)

I got into drinking tea when I married the hubby, they're big on tea, now I can't wait to brew myself a pot whenever I'm busy and want to have a break with tea time. Hope your plans push through with the vacation, you and B deserve it!